Oyston handed six-week ban

The Football Association has banned Blackpool owner Karl Oyston from any football activity for six weeks following his text message spat.

Published

10 June 2015

Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston has been fined £40,000 and banned from any football activity for six weeks after sending "abusive and insulting" messages to a fan.

The Football Association handed out the sanctions after Oyston admitted the five breaches of aggravated misconduct following the exchange with a supporter in November 2014, in which the Blackpool owner made references to disability.

Oyston is said to have made the abusive remarks towards Steve Smith, a member of the Tangerine Knights Supporters Group who was critical of the way the chairman is running Blackpool.

Under the sanctions – which Oyston has the right to appeal – the Blackpool owner will not be able to attend any Blackpool match from July 8 to August 18, either competitive or friendlies.

Oyston is also banned from entering Bloomfield Road for any matches for a period starting two hours before kick-off until two hours following the end of the match.

Blackpool were relegated from the Championship at the end of last season, and will compete in League One next season.